Women Top The Forbes Celebrity 100

It’s been a great year for female celebrities. This year, on Forbes’ annual list of The World’s Most Powerful Celebrities, women held the top two spots. They were also the majority of the top-10 highest ranked celebrities, with six of those slots.

Interestingly, two African-American women topped the list this year. Oprah Winfrey pushed last year’s No. 1, Angelina Jolie, out to regain her status as ruler of the world’s ultra-famous. (Jolie fell to No. 18.) Forbes estimates that Winfrey earned $315 million in the last year, a boost in earning power from 2009, when she pulled in $275 million. At this rate, Winfrey makes about $900,000 a day.

The media titan took the crown because of her earning power and reach. She has built an extensive audience, expanded across several media platforms and is a press favorite. She will likely maintain her No. 1 status as she moves to her new network, The Oprah Winfrey Network, next year.

Second from the top was performer Beyonce Knowles, whose popularity, influence and $87-million salary boosted her above movie director James Cameron, at No. 3. The other women in the top 10 were newcomer Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Sandra Bullock and music legend Madonna.

In the entertainment industry, women are gaining ground. While most of the ladies on the list owe their fame to on-screen or on-stage personas, many have built their fortunes through smart brand extension. Tiny Fey, at No. 90, smartly moved into movies and took her late-night TV success to primetime with her NBC show 30 Rock. Similarly, actress Sarah Jessica Parker, at No. 70, used her notoriety from HBO series Sex and The City to nab ad campaigns with Garnier and The Gap. She also launched her own fashion and perfume lines, and has taken behind-the-scenes roles as producer.

The women on the list have leveraged their fame and talent to become some of the smartest businesswomen of today.